Chess Puzzle #4A624 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2234 · Expert · arabian mate, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rooks c1/f1; knight g3; pawns a4/b5/d5/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook f8; knights e4/g5; pawns a5/b6/d6/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c1→c7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  4. Best move: Nf3+ — knight g5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  5. Best move: Rh2# — rook f2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

arabian mate, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6p1/1p1p2Qp/pP1Pp1n1/P3n3/5qNP/5P1K/2R2R2 w - - 4 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.